𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐖𝐎 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄𝐒 | 𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚¹

CHAPTER 12

Further on in their journey, Icemoon's mother, Secretgiver, led them to a vast and endless slope that seemed to extend for countless miles ahead of them. As they reached the top, she gently placed her daughter and the clay beside her, the gravity of the moment weighing upon her. With a gentle nudge, she sent them both tumbling down the hill, the clay bouncing and rolling as they descended.

"What is this place, Mom?" Clay managed to ask, his voice a bit shaky from the exertion. They had traveled far and wide, and the excitement of their adventure had begun to take its toll on him.

As they came to a rest on a lush patch of grass, Secretgiver took a moment to catch her breath, her eyes filled with a mix of nostalgia and pain. "We've arrived at the edge of what was once the mighty Nightwing kingdom," she revealed, her gaze drifting to the horizon where the sun had begun to set, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

Clay looked around, his curiosity piqued by the mention of the ancient realm. "Is this where you met my dad?" he inquired, his voice filled with wonder.

Secretgiver nodded solemnly, her expression a blend of fond remembrance and sadness.

 "Indeed, it is," she said, her voice tinged with melancholy. "This is the very spot where I encountered your father, under the shadow of those same trees." She pointed to a small grove of trees that stood tall and proud nearby, their leaves whispering secrets to the wind.

Icemoon's eyes grew wide with amazement. "Wow," she whispered, the weight of her mother's words sinking in. "What was he like?"

Secretgiver sighed deeply, her heart heavy with the memories of the past. "He was a fierce and noble dragon," she began, her voice growing soft. "A true hero, but fate had other plans for us."

 Her gaze grew distant as she spoke, lost in the mists of time. "And here is where I also lost my dear sister, Foeslayer," she continued, a single tear escaping her eye. "To that detestable IceWing prince, Artic." The mere mention of his name brought a look of pain to her features, and her wings drooped slightly, each star on their surface seeming to dim with the weight of her sorrow.

Icemoon moved closer to her mother, wrapping her small arms around her tightly. "I'm so sorry you had to go through such hardship," she murmured, her voice filled with empathy.

Secretgiver returned the embrace, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "Don't be, my precious child," she responded, her voice a gentle whisper. "You are the light that has guided me through the darkest of days. The reason I have persevered and continued to live is because of you." With a tender smile, she leaned her head against Icemoon's. "And I will persist in doing so," she added, her voice firm with resolve, "until the day comes when you discover the happiness that is destined to be yours."

The mother and daughter sat there for a while longer, the warmth of their bond providing solace against the cool evening air. The events of the past were a stark contrast to the peaceful scene that now unfolded before them, but in that moment, all that mattered was their love and the promise of a brighter future ahead.

Ice Moon gently flapped her icy-blue wing in Clay's direction, beckoning him closer with a soft, yet playful gesture. "Don't be shy," she cooed, her voice carrying a hint of mischief. "Come on over here," she encouraged him, her eyes sparkling with the reflection of the moonlight that danced upon the frosty landscape.